Today’s quick review: Inferno. Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) wakes up in a hospital in Florence with a head wound and no recollection of how he got there. Attacked at the hospital, Langdon flees with Dr. Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones) and tries to piece together why someone wants him dead. The answer turns out to be dire: he holds the only clue to the location of a bioengineered virus that could wipe out half the world’s population.
Inferno is a mystery thriller based on the novel by Dan Brown. Tom Hanks reprises his role as Robert Langdon, a history expert with a knack for solving riddles. This time Langdon tests his wits against Bertrand Zobrist (Ben Foster), a billionaire who plans to cull humanity in order to save it. Inferno manages to be an entertaining thriller with a few good twists. However, its weaker premise makes it a step down from previous Dan Brown adaptations.
Inferno does a good job of setting up a complicated mystery. Langdon and Brooks must stay ahead of not only Zobrist’s agent (Ana Ularu) but also the authorities, including World Health Organization director Elizabeth Sinskey (Sidse Babett Knudsen), whose true motives are unknown. The various factions who are hunting for Langdon help flesh out the plot, provide a sense of time pressure, and set up a few interesting revelations down the line.
However, Inferno has less mystique than The Da Vinci Code or Angels & Demons. Where the previous movies were, at least in part, historical conspiracies, Inferno only uses its historical trivia as set dressing. Langdon still gets the chance to show off his knowledge, but the clues he must solve are not as integral to the plot. The mystery also has a few weak points, leaning heavily on Langdon’s amnesia and a couple of improbable schemes.
Inferno makes for a fine pick for anyone in the mood for a mystery with a ticking clock. Its story is missing some of the best qualities of its predecessors, but what’s left is an engaging plot with plenty going on. Those interested in a modern conspiracy with a touch of historical trim should look no farther. Those looking for a brilliant story or more meaningful historical detail ma want to pass.
6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a solid race against time without the vision of its predecessors.